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Newsletter 6 December 2017

Newsletter 6 December 2017

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,our glory is to stand before the worldas your own sons and daughters.May the simple beauty of Jesus’ birthsummon us always to love what is most deeply human,and to see your Word made fleshreflected in those whose lives we touch.Amen.

Wednesday 6 December 2017

Principal's Message

Christmas is not about the Saviour’s infancy; it is about His deity. The humble birth of Jesus Christ was never intended to conceal the reality that God was being born into the world.

Luke 2:4-19 (NIV) says:

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

As this year draws to a close, on behalf of the staff of your school, I wish you all a blessed and safe Christmas /New Year break.

School finishes this Friday for students and the following Friday for staff.

ApologiesFor some unknown reason some families received last week’s newsletter last week and others did not. This will hopefully not occur again. It certainly resulted in a flurry of discussion yesterday when it finally reached those who did not get it last week.

School Timetable ChangesTo recap:In 2015 the school opening time was adjusted (to open earlier) because we, like all other Catholic primary schools, found ourselves in breach of the Department of Education Services (DES) requirements relating to minutes of instruction delivered across a school year.

Unbeknownst to us and most of the other schools, by extending the teachers’ working day we were then in breach of the Teacher Workload Policy, which sets an upper limit on the number of minutes a teacher is permitted to work each week. This matter has now been before the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission for the past two years, with OLG ‘named’ as one of the defendants.

A couple of weeks ago a meeting was held with the CEWA lawyers and industrial people, at which the schools that were ‘named’ were urged to find a solution that satisfied both sets of demands – IEUWA and DES.

Unless the union relents or the government changes its requirements, there would appear to be very few ways ways for a school to resolve the matter and preserve the current level of genuine, learning time.

After consultation with OLG’s teachers and the School Board, it was reluctantly decided to choose the solution we did. Reluctantly, because each choice has serious drawbacks.It is important to note that the teachers of OLG would have preferred to maintain the status quo. I would suggest that it is not common for employees to willingly give up agreed work conditions without some compensation – but that is the calibre of the teacher we have.That solution though would result in OLG having different work conditions to the rest of the CEWA system and that would be fraught with difficulties.The case returns to the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission next week, when it is hoped that some resolution will be reached between the schools and the IEUWA. The outcome of this meeting may result in our published plans being abandoned due to a different solution being mandated.That being the situation, please disregard the announced changes. (I can hear the cheers and see the posts already). If no resolution is reached, we will stay with the 2017 opening, finishing and recess times.

The form of our 2018 school day is now dependent on the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission. That said, it is clear that a number of parents would rather an early start time rather than a later one. The implications of this might be an earlier finish time. Hopefully we will have some direction in the matter before school closes for the year.

“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,Moves on: nor all your Piety nor WitShall lure it back to cancel half a Line,Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.”Ancient wisdom about social media in the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Congratulations to the students who received merit awards at the last assembly.

PPB

Sammy Sinclair, Xaviera Lestone

PPG

Judd Robinson

3G

Sydney Croxford, Lucas Humphreys

4B

Elizabeth Watson, Isobel Robinson

4W

Mraz Yates, Tamer Christou

5B

Ashleigh Meyers, Riley Burns, Cooper Hinkley

6B

Sam Simpson

6G

Zane Zakostelsky, Maya O'Leary

Pre-Primary Morning Tea

Uniform Shop 2018 Opening Times - changes

The Uniform Shop opening times have changed for 2018. The shop will be open on Tuesday afternoon 2.45pm to 3.15pm and Friday morning 8.15am to 9.00am.

St. Vincent De Paul Christmas HampersAs you would know this year OLG school have been involved in collecting donations for Christmas hampers for St Vincent de Paul, to assist people in need within our local community. The response from the OLG school community was overwhelming. When the donations started coming in we weren't sure how we could store everything. The OLG school community have once again gone above and beyond to support such a wonderful cause- giving people less fortunate than ourselves the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a special way. So, We would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who donated- you're kindness will be much appreciated this Christmas.

We were able to make enough hampers for 34 families- filled with more than enough for a special Christmas celebration.

A special thank you to Silvana Aquaviva, Faye Pafumi, Linda Noble, Eva Papotomo and Jo Fanchi who spent hours tirelessly putting together all the hampers with us. Thanks also to Sr Joseph and the spiritual ministry for helping collect the hampers from classrooms.

OLG extension students displayed their Art Passion Projects in the Library for students and families the view on Friday. Photos - click here

Student Medication will be sent home with students tomorrow.

Farewell Families: The end of any school year always brings some sadness as the final child of a family graduates from OLG. The school community, therefore, extends its best wishes to the following families who, in most cases over a long period of time, have contributed much and who are departing OLG with their Year 6 child at the end of the year.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME 2018Please find attached the Sacramental Dates for next year. We have had to make a few changes. Confirmation will now take place on the 27th May as the Emeritus Archbishop Barry Hickey will officiate. We have also brought forward Confirmation Enquiry and Enrolment. They are both a week earlier than previously advertised. The Thanksgiving Masses for Confirmation and Eucharist will be celebrated on the same day, 24th June. - click here for new schedule

A Service of Prayer & Song in the style of Taize –Short chants repeated give a meditative character,Candle light, prayer and silence in the presence of the cross.Thursday 7th December 7.30pm - 8.30pm

Please join us in prayer.

Our Lady of Grace Church3 Kitchener St. North BeachContact 9448 4888 or Joan 9448 4457for more information about Taize community in France